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MANAGING HIGH
BLOOD PRESSURE
(HYPERTENSION)

1800 103 7070

FOR APPOINTMENT
 If you have recently been
told you have high blood
pressure (also routinely
called as BP), or don't know
much about how blood pres-
sure works, this booklet will help
as a guide that will take you
through important things about
High Blood Pressure
including its management.
This booklet will also help you to take
control of your blood pressure - for life.
 HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IS ONE OF THE
MOST COMMON LIFESTYLE DISEASES TODAY.
NEARLY ONE IN THREE INDIAN ADULTS HAS HIGH
BLOOD PRESSURE.
A. What is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure (also called Hyperten-
sion) is when your blood pressure is usually
higher than it should be. If there is too
much pressure in your blood vessels, and if
your high blood pressure is not lowered,
there is a risk for damage to your eyes,
brain, heart, blood vessels and kidneys,
leading to serious conditions such as heart
attack, heart failure, stroke or dementia.
B. What do blood pressure numbers
mean?
Blood pressure is measured with two
numbers. They are shown as one number
on top of the other. It is recorded in
millimetres of mercury (mmHg).
For example, if your doctor says your BP is
"120 over 80", or 120/80mmHg, it means
you have a systolic pressure of 120mmHg
and a diastolic pressure of 80mmHg. Blood
pressure lower than or equal to 120/80 is
considered a good blood pressure
reading. For pre-diabetes or kidney disease,
blood pressure lower than 130/80 is good.
Lower than 120/80 is ideal.
People with a blood pressure reading below
90/60mmHg are usually regarded as having
low blood pressure. Naturally low blood
pressure is unlikely to cause any symptoms
and is normally nothing to worry about.
C. Do you have high blood pressure?
If you have been diagnosed with a high
blood pressure, you may be started on
medicine(s) to lower your blood pressure
and some tests may be done to look for the
cause of your high blood pressure, its
potential effects and risk factors for
complications of high blood pressure.
For Example:
A urine test: to make sure your kidneys
are functioning normally
A blood test: to check your cholesterol
level, your sugar level (for diabetes),
and your kidney function
A heart tracing/ECG: to ensure your
heart is not being strained due to the
high blood pressure
D. Blood pressure measures and what they mean
Type of blood pressure Value (mmHg) What should the value mean to you?

Normal Less than 120/80 Even a small rise in either number increases
risk for heart disease and stroke. Talk to your
doctor if you have kidney disease or diabetes.

Pre-hypertension 120/80 - 140/90 May lead to higher blood pressure.

Talk to your doctor.

High blood pressure 140/90 and higher You need treatment.

(Hypertension)

120 Top Number (Systolic) : Indicates the force used when your heart contracts and pumps blood.

80 Bottom Number (Diastolic): Indicates the force used when your heart relaxes and fills with blood.
E. What can you do to control
your blood pressure?
Remember that:
High blood pressure can be
You must take your medicine every day
controlled with medicines
as directed by your doctor.
and everyday lifestyle changes.
Take the following simple Even if you dont feel like the medicine
is working, it is actually working.
measures for controlling high
blood pressure If you experience uncomfortable side
a) Modifications to Lifestyle effects, continue taking your medicine
but come to the Centre to talk to your
Here are seven everyday steps to help
doctor about managing the side effects.
control the blood pressure. Apart from
helping control the blood pressure, they It is important that you take these pills
every day. If you stop taking them, your
also help you create a healthy lifestyle.
blood pressure will go back up.
For best results, try to do as many
as you can. Dont wait for signs of damage to your
organs or health. Take the steps to take
control of your high blood pressure.
F. Get to a healthy weight if you need to:
Reduce the amount of salt you eat
Exercise regularly
Eat a healthy diet
Reduce the amount of alcohol, if you
G. Why is it important to check your
are drinking too much alcohol
blood pressure?
Cut down on your caffeine intake
High blood pressure often doesn't have any
Stop smoking
symptoms. It is considered a silent condi-
tion. Over time, it can damage your heart
b) Regularly take prescribed Medications
and other organs. The only way to find out if
There are many types of blood pressure
you have it is to get your blood pressure
medicines. Some remove extra fluid and
checked. Having this done is easy and
salt from the body to lower blood pressure.
Others slow down the heartbeat and widen
blood vessels.
could save your life. Talk with your doctor
about how often to have your blood
Before taking your
pressure checked.
blood pressure:
Healthy adults aged over 35 should have
their blood pressure checked at least once
Avoid smoking, caffeine, or
every five years. exercise for 30 minutes.
If you are at an increased risk of high blood
pressure, you should have your blood Sit down and relax for at
least five minutes.
pressure checked more often, ideally once
a year. If you dont, your blood
You can ask for a blood pressure pressure result may not be
check at any of the HCL Centres you true.
don't have to wait to be offered one.
Use a properly sized cuff.
An incorrectly fitting cuff
H. Home testing may give false readings.
Portable machines that measure your blood
pressure at home or when youre travelling
are a useful way of keeping an eye on your Speak to our doctors at
HCL Centres on how to
blood pressure (BP) readings.
measure blood pressure at
You can buy a variety of low cost monitors
home. They will be happy
to test your blood pressure at home or
to explain the technique of
while you're travelling. Speak to one of our using the monitor at
doctors for more detailed information about home.
clinically approved blood pressure monitors
that are available to buy. Try to take your
blood pressure at the same time every day
and preferably during your usual waking
hours (between 08:00 and 22:00 hours).
 HCL Healthcare Advantage
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CENTRES: DWARKA I GURGAON 54 I NOIDA I NIRMAN VIHAR I PITAMPURA
Plot No. 9, Sector 12A, Opp. Indraprastha Gas Station, Dwarka,
New Delhi - 110075 Phone: 95599924784/85
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